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Psalm 45[a]

For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” Of the Sons of Korah. A maskil.[b] A wedding song.(A)

My heart is stirred by a noble theme
    as I recite my verses for the king;
    my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.

You are the most excellent of men
    and your lips have been anointed with grace,(B)
    since God has blessed you forever.(C)

Gird your sword(D) on your side, you mighty one;(E)
    clothe yourself with splendor and majesty.(F)
In your majesty ride forth victoriously(G)
    in the cause of truth, humility and justice;(H)
    let your right hand(I) achieve awesome deeds.(J)
Let your sharp arrows(K) pierce the hearts(L) of the king’s enemies;(M)
    let the nations fall beneath your feet.
Your throne, O God,[c] will last for ever and ever;(N)
    a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You love righteousness(O) and hate wickedness;(P)
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing(Q) you with the oil of joy.(R)
All your robes are fragrant(S) with myrrh(T) and aloes(U) and cassia;(V)
    from palaces adorned with ivory(W)
    the music of the strings(X) makes you glad.
Daughters of kings(Y) are among your honored women;
    at your right hand(Z) is the royal bride(AA) in gold of Ophir.(AB)

10 Listen, daughter,(AC) and pay careful attention:(AD)
    Forget your people(AE) and your father’s house.
11 Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;(AF)
    honor(AG) him, for he is your lord.(AH)
12 The city of Tyre(AI) will come with a gift,[d](AJ)
    people of wealth will seek your favor.
13 All glorious(AK) is the princess within her chamber;
    her gown is interwoven with gold.(AL)
14 In embroidered garments(AM) she is led to the king;(AN)
    her virgin companions(AO) follow her—
    those brought to be with her.
15 Led in with joy and gladness,(AP)
    they enter the palace of the king.

16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers;
    you will make them princes(AQ) throughout the land.

17 I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;(AR)
    therefore the nations will praise you(AS) for ever and ever.(AT)

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 45:1 In Hebrew texts 45:1-17 is numbered 45:2-18.
  2. Psalm 45:1 Title: Probably a literary or musical term
  3. Psalm 45:6 Here the king is addressed as God’s representative.
  4. Psalm 45:12 Or A Tyrian robe is among the gifts

The Glories of the Messiah and His Bride

To the Chief Musician. (A)Set to [a]“The Lilies.” A [b]Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love.

45 My heart is overflowing with a good theme;
I recite my composition concerning the King;
My tongue is the pen of a [c]ready writer.

You are fairer than the sons of men;
(B)Grace is poured upon Your lips;
Therefore God has blessed You forever.
[d]Gird Your (C)sword upon Your thigh, (D)O Mighty One,
With Your (E)glory and Your majesty.
(F)And in Your majesty ride prosperously because of truth, humility, and righteousness;
And Your right hand shall teach You awesome things.
Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the King’s enemies;
The peoples fall under You.

(G)Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A (H)scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has (I)anointed You
With the oil of (J)gladness more than Your companions.
All Your garments are (K)scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia,
Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.
(L)Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women;
(M)At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.

10 Listen, O daughter,
Consider and incline your ear;
(N)Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;
11 So the King will greatly desire your beauty;
(O)Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
12 And the daughter of Tyre will come with a gift;
(P)The rich among the people will seek your favor.

13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace;
Her clothing is woven with gold.
14 (Q)She shall be brought to the King in robes of many colors;
The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to You.
15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be brought;
They shall enter the King’s palace.

16 Instead of Your fathers shall be Your sons,
(R)Whom You shall make princes in all the earth.
17 (S)I will make Your name to be remembered in all generations;
Therefore the people shall praise You forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 45:1 Heb. Shoshannim
  2. Psalm 45:1 Heb. Maschil
  3. Psalm 45:1 skillful
  4. Psalm 45:3 Belt on

Psalm 45

For the choir director: A love song to be sung to the tune “Lilies.” A psalm[a] of the descendants of Korah.

Beautiful words stir my heart.
    I will recite a lovely poem about the king,
    for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

You are the most handsome of all.
    Gracious words stream from your lips.
    God himself has blessed you forever.
Put on your sword, O mighty warrior!
    You are so glorious, so majestic!
In your majesty, ride out to victory,
    defending truth, humility, and justice.
    Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts.
    The nations fall beneath your feet.

Your throne, O God,[b] endures forever and ever.
    You rule with a scepter of justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
    Therefore God, your God, has anointed you,
    pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes.
    In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
Kings’ daughters are among your noble women.
    At your right side stands the queen,
    wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
    Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
    honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre[c] will shower you with gifts.
    The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious
    in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king,
    accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession
    as they enter the king’s palace!

16 Your sons will become kings like their father.
    You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation.
    Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. 45:Title Hebrew maskil. This may be a literary or musical term.
  2. 45:6 Or Your divine throne.
  3. 45:12 Hebrew The daughter of Tyre.

A Royal Wedding Song[a]

45 Beautiful words fill my mind,
    as I compose this song for the king.
Like the pen of a good writer
    my tongue is ready with a poem.

You are the most handsome of men;
    you are an eloquent speaker.
    God has always blessed you.
Buckle on your sword, mighty king;
    you are glorious and majestic.

Ride on in majesty to victory
    for the defense of truth and justice![b]
    Your strength will win you great victories!
Your arrows are sharp,
    they pierce the hearts of your enemies;
    nations fall down at your feet.

(A)The kingdom that God has given you[c]
    will last forever and ever.
You rule over your people with justice;
    you love what is right and hate what is evil.
That is why God, your God, has chosen you
    and has poured out more happiness on you
    than on any other king.
The perfume of myrrh and aloes is on your clothes;
    musicians entertain you in palaces decorated with ivory.
Among the women of your court are daughters of kings,
    and at the right of your throne stands the queen,
    wearing ornaments of finest gold.

10 Bride of the king, listen to what I say—
    forget your people and your relatives.
11 Your beauty will make the king desire you;
    he is your master, so you must obey him.
12 The people of Tyre will bring you gifts;
    rich people will try to win your favor.

13 The princess is in the palace—how beautiful she is!
    Her gown is made of gold thread.
14 In her colorful gown she is led to the king,
    followed by her bridesmaids,
    and they also are brought to him.
15 With joy and gladness they come
    and enter the king's palace.

16 You, my king, will have many sons
    to succeed your ancestors as kings,
    and you will make them rulers over the whole earth.
17 My song will keep your fame alive forever,
    and everyone will praise you for all time to come.

Footnotes

  1. Psalm 45:1 HEBREW TITLE: A poem by the clan of Korah; a love song.
  2. Psalm 45:4 Probable text and justice; Hebrew and meekness of justice.
  3. Psalm 45:6 The kingdom that God has given you; or Your kingdom, O God; or Your divine kingdom.

(A special psalm by the clan of Korah and for the music leader. To the tune “Lilies.” A love song.)

For a Royal Wedding

My thoughts are filled
with beautiful words
    for the king,
and I will use my voice
as a writer would use
    pen and ink.

No one is as handsome as you!
    Your words are always kind.
That is why God
    will always bless you.
Mighty king, glorious ruler,
strap on your sword
    and ride out in splendor!
Win victories for truth
    and mercy and justice.
Do fearsome things
    with your powerful arm.
Send your sharp arrows
    through enemy hearts
and make all nations fall
    at your feet.

(A) You are God, and you will rule
    forever as king.[a]
Your royal power
    brings about justice.
You love justice and hate evil.
    And so, your God chose you
and made you happier
    than any of your friends.
The sweet aroma of the spices
myrrh, aloes, and cassia
    covers your royal robes.
You enjoy the music of harps
in palaces decorated
    with ivory.
Daughters of kings are here,
and your bride stands
    at your right side,
wearing a wedding gown
    trimmed with pure gold.[b]

10 Bride of the king,
    listen carefully to me.
Forget your own people
and your father's family. 11     The king adores you.
He is your master,
    so do what he desires.
12 All of the richest people
    from the city of Tyre
will try to influence you
13     with precious treasures.

Your bride, my king,
    has inward beauty,[c]
and her wedding gown is woven
    with threads of gold.
14 Wearing the finest garments,
    she is brought to you,
followed by her young friends,
    the bridesmaids.
15 Everyone is excited,
as they follow you
    to the royal palace.

16 Your sons and your grandsons
will also be kings
    as your ancestors were.
You will make them rulers
    everywhere on earth.

17 I will make your name famous
    from now on,
and you will be praised
    forever and ever.

Footnotes

  1. 45.6 You … king: Or “God has made you king, and you will rule forever.”
  2. 45.9 trimmed with pure gold: Hebrew has “with gold from Ophir,” which may have been in Africa or India. Gold from there was considered the very best.
  3. 45.13 has inward beauty: Or “is dressed in her room.”